Tamperproof replaceable cap



A g- 1967 P. P. GACH TAMPERPROOF REPLACEABLE CAP Filed Oct. 13, 1965 INVENTOR: GAcz-r.

AT T 'YS.

PETER P.

United States Patent Ofifice 3,334,769 Patented Aug. 8, 1967 3,334,769 TAMPERPROOF REPLACEABLE CAP Peter P. Gael], Evansville, Ind, assignor to Sunbeam Plastics Corp., Evansville, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed Oct. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 495,447 4 Claims. (Cl. 22024) This invention relates to a tamperproof replaceable cap and, more particularly, to a tamperproof replaceable cap for use on a dispensing container, which has an initial tamperproof connection.

Dispensing containers, for example aerosol cans, consist of cylindrical can bodies having dispensing openings provided in their upper ends. Often, a valve structure is provided in combination with the dispensing opening and the contents of the container are dispensed under pressure through the valve structure. A cap is placed over or upon the upper end of the dispensing container to surround and protect the dispensing opening.

A problem encountered by merchants who market this type of container is that customers often remove the caps from the cans prior to purchase. This may be done for either of two common reasons: to test or sample the contents of the can prior to purchase; or, when the price of the can is stamped on the cap, to place the cap of a can which bears a lower selling price on a can having a higher selling price.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a tamperproof replaceable cap which has an initial tamperproof position in which the cap and a dispensing container are connected in an adhering relationship.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a tamperproof replaceable cap which has friction engaging means for the retention of a cap on a dispensing container after the cap has been initially removed from its tamperproof position.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following specification and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view in elevation, with parts broken away, of a dispensing container and a tamperproof replaceable cap, according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view in elevation, similar to FIG. 1, taken at a position 90 removed from the position shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a tamperproof replaceable cap, according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale of a portion of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view in elevation, similar to FIG. 1, however showing the tamperproof cap as it is being removed from its initial tamperproof position; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view, taken on an enlarged scale, and showing in particular a portion of a depending skirt of the tamperproof cap shown in FIG. 1.

Briefly, the invention relates to an improved tamperproof replaceable cap for use on a dispensing container having an upright body and an upstanding rim on its upper end. The container has a circular receiving groove adjacent the rim. The tamperproof replaceable cap com rises a cup shaped body including a cover and an integral depending skirt. Adhering means are provided on the lower portion of the skirt. The lower portion of the skirt extends downwardly into the receiving groove in sealing relationship with the container when the cap is in an initial tamperproof position. An outwardly extending projection is provided on the depending skirt. The projection has a lower edge which is spaced vertically above a portion of the upstanding rim of the container when the cap is in the tamperproof position. The lower edge of the depending skirt and the portion of the container rim define therebet'ween an opening recess. A tool may be inserted in the opening recess to remove the cap from its initial tamperproof position on the dispensing container.

Referring to FIG. 1, a container and cap assembly is generally indicated at 10. The assembly 10 includes a dispensing container 11 and a tamperproof cap 12, according to the present invention.

The dispensing container 11 has a cylindrical and upright body 13. In the present embodiment, the body 13 has a domed top 14 secured to its upper end by an annular upstanding rim 15. However, the tamperproof cap 12 is equally suitable for use upon containers which do not have domed tops. A valve mechanism, generally indicated by the reference number 16, is mounted on the domed top 14 and includes a valve actuator 17 having a dispensing opening 18. Although the dispensing container 11, illustrated in FIG. 1, is a pressurized container, the present invention is not limited to a tamperproof replaceable cap for a pressurized container, but is equally suitable for use on non-pressurized containers.

The tamperproof replaceable cap 12, according to the present invention, has a generally cup shaped body which includes a cover 19 and an integral cylindrically shaped depending skirt 20. In the present embodiment, the cover 19 has a raised center portion 21.

The dispensing container 11 has a circular, receiving groove 24 located in its upper surface adjacent the rim 15. Preferably, the receiving groove 24 has a trapezoidal shape in vertical cross section with the lower portion of the receiving groove 24 being slightly wider than the top portion.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 6 a projection 25 extends outwardly from the depending skirt 20. The projection 25 has a tapering rib 26 which extends vertically upwardly and a lower edge 27. The lower edge 27 of the projection 25 is spaced vertically above the rim 15 of the dispensing container 11 when the cap is in an initial tamperproof position shown in FIG. 1. An opening recess 28 is formed between the lower edge 27 of the projection 25 and the rim 15 when the cap 12 is in the initial tamperproof position.

Referring to FIG. 6, a lower portion 31 of the depending ing skirt 20 tapers slightly inwardly and an inwardly directed rib 32 is provided on the tapered lower portion 31 adjacent a bottom edge 33 of the tamperproof cap.

The inwardly directed rib 32 serves as a friction engaging means for retaining the cap 12 upon the dispensing container 11 after the cap 12 has been removed from its initial tamperproof position. Preferably, an outwardly directed compression bead 34- is provided on the outer surface of the depending skirt 20 in opposed relationship to the rib 32.

As was previously mentioned, the receiving groove 24 preferably has a trapezoidal shape and the cap 12 is forced downwardly past the relatively narrow upper end of the receiving groove 24 until the rib 32 seats in the bottom of the groove 24-. The cap 12 is preferably constructed of a semi-flexible material.

A layer of adhesive 35 is provided between the bottom edge 33 of the cap 12 and the bottom of the receiving groove 24 of the dispensing container 11. The layer of adhesive 35 secures the cap 12 to the dispensing container 11 in sealing relationship when the cap 12 is in the initial tamperproof position (see FIG. 1).

When it is desired to remove the cap 12 from the dispensing container 11 a tool, for example, a screwdriver 38, is inserted within the opening recess 28 (see FIG. 1). The tip of the screwdriver 38 engages both the lower edge 27 of the projection 25 and the upper surface of the upstanding rim 15. As the screwdriver 38 is rotated or pivoted (see FIG. 5) the sealing relationship between the cap 12 and the dispensing container 11 which is eifectuated by the adhesive layer 35 is broken and the cap 12 may be removed from the dispensing container 11.

After the tamperproof seal has been broken, the user may remove at least a portion of the contents of the dispensing container 11 by actuating the valve mechanism 16. The user may then replace the cap 12 upon the container 11 by forcing the bottom edge 33 of the depending skirt 20 downwardly past the upper end of the receiving groove 24 until the inwardly directed rib 32 seats in the bottom portion of the receiving groove 24.

The compression bead 34 preferably engages the inner surface of the rim 15 and holds the rib 32 in a friction engaging relationship with the dispensing container 11.

If the user again desires to remove the cap 12 he grasps the cap 12 in one hand and the dispensing container 11 in the other and pulls the two components apart. Only a small amount of force is necessary to move the rib 32 out of its friction engaging relationship in the receiving groove 24 of the dispensing container 11.

While the present invention has been disclosed with a specific arrangement and disposition of the parts, it should be expressly understood that numerous modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A tamperproof replaceable cap for use on a dispensing container having an upright body including an upstanding rim on the upper end of such body, such container having a circular receiving groove adjacent such rim, said tamperproof replaceable cap comprising, in combination, a cup shaped body including a cover and an integral depending skirt, adhering means positioned adjacent the lower portion of said skirt, the lower portion of said skirt extending downwardly into such receiving groove in sealing relationship with such container when said cap is in an initial tamperproof position, and an outwardly extending projection on said depending skirt, said projection having a lower edge spaced vertically above a portion of such upstanding rim when said cap is in such tamperproof position, said lower edge and such rim portion defining therebetween an opening recess whereby a tool may be inserted in such recess to remove said cap from such dispensing container.

2. A tamperproof replaceable cap for use on a dispensing container having a circular receiving groove on its upper end, said tamperproof replaceable cap comprising, in combination, a cup shaped body including a cylindrical skirt having a lower portion adapted to be received by such groove of such container, an outwardly extending projection on said depending skirt, said projection having a lower edge spaced vertically above a portion of such container when said cap is in a tamperproof position, said lower edge and such container portion defining therebetween an opening recess whereby a tool may be inserted in such recess to remove said cap from such dispensing container, and an inwardly directed rib adjacent said lower portion of said skirt, said rib frictionally engaging such container when positioned in such groove.

3. A tamperproof replaceable cap for use on a dispensing container having an upright body including an upstanding rim on the upper end of such body, such container having a circular receiving groove adjacent such rim, said tamperproof replaceable cap comprising, in combination, a cup shaped body including a cylindrical skirt having an inwardly tapered lower portion adapted to be received by such groove of such container, an inwardly directed rib on said tapered lower portion, said rib being adapted to frictionally engage such container when said tapered lower portion is received by such groove, a layer of adhesive adjacent the bottom of said lower portion of said skirt, said layer of adhesive adapted to secure said cap and such container in a connected relationship when said cap is in an initial tamperproof position upon such container, and an outwardly directed projection on said lower portion of said skirt, said projection extending vertically upwardly and having a lower edge spaced vertically above a portion of such upstanding rim when said cap is in such tamperproof position, said lower edge and such rim portion defining therebetween a horizontally extending opening recess, whereby a tool may be inserted in such recess to remove said cap from such dispensing container when said cap is in the initial tamperproof position.

4. A tamperproof replaceable cap, according to claim 3, including an outwardly directed compression head on said skirt in opposed relationship with said inwardly directed rib.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,125,259 3/1964 Young 222-541 3,225,958 12/ 1965 Frankenberg 22060 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner. G. T. HALL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A TAMPERPROOF REPLACEABLE CAP FOR USE ON A DISPENSING CONTAINER HAVING AN UPRIGHT BODY INCLUDING AN UPSTANDING RIM ON THE UPPER END OF SUCH BODY, SUCH CONTAINER HAVING A CIRCULAR RECEIVING GROOVE ADJACENT SUCH RIM, SAID TAMPERPROOF REPLACEABLE CAP COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A CUP SHAPED BODY INCLUDING A COVER AND AN INTEGRAL DEPENDING SKIRT, ADHERING MEANS POSITIONED ADJACENT THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID SKIRT, THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID SKIRT EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY INTO SUCH RECEIVING GROOVE IN SEALING RELATIONSHIP WITH SUCH CONTAINER WHEN SAID CAP IS IN AN INITIAL TAMPERPROOF POSITION, AND AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PROJECTION ON SAID DEPENDING SKIRT, SAID PROJECTION HAVING A LOWER EDGE SPACED VERTICALLY ABOVE A PORTION OF SUCH UPSTANDING RIM WHEN SAID CAP IS IN SUCH TAMPERPROOF POSITION, SAID LOWER EDGE AND SUCH RIM PORTION DEFINING THEREBETWEEN AN OPENING RECESS WHEREBY A TOOL MAY BE INSERTED IN SUCH RECESS TO REMOVE SAID CAP FROM SUCH DISPENSING CONTAINER. 